The most recent data from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) offers a clear and sobering picture of working at height in Great Britain. From April 2024 to March 2025, 124 workers lost their lives in work-related accidents. Of those deaths, 35 were caused by falls from height, which makes these incidents the largest single cause of worker fatalities.
The raw number alone is troubling, but the wider pattern is even more concerning. For the third year in a row, falls from height have remained the leading cause of fatal workplace injuries. The consistency of this trend shows that many workplaces have yet to adopt the level of care and planning that the law expects and that workers deserve.
Construction Under The Spotlight
Among all sectors, the construction industry recorded the highest number of worker deaths in 2024 and 2025 with 35 fatalities. Construction work often involves scaffolds, temporary platforms, fragile surfaces, roof work and incomplete structures, which are environments that demand tight coordination and a clear understanding of who is responsible for each stage of access and protection. Yet despite this, a significant share of fatal incidents spring from avoidable lapses.
More than half of all construction deaths over the five-year period from 2020 to 2025 were linked to falls from height. This tells us that the same issues repeat across different sites, contractors and regions. Past investigations have highlighted employers failing to install edge protection, using access platforms that were never inspected, or allowing workers to climb onto improvised structures.
Why Falls At Height Remain So Common
There are several contributing factors, but one consistent thread appears in recent fatal incident reports. Missing or inadequate edge protection continues to stand out as the most common failure. This is especially frustrating because guard rails, barriers and toe boards are among the simplest preventative measures available. They are fast to install, easy to inspect and effective when maintained. Yet they remain absent in many of the cases reviewed by investigators.
Inadequate planning is also common, especially on short-term jobs or minor repairs, where supervisors believe the work is low risk. Poor supervision leaves workers without clear direction, and unfamiliar subcontractors often work without proper inductions. Training gaps also play a part, especially when workers rely on assumptions rather than clear instructions. In many small firms, written risk assessments exist only in theory, which leaves workers exposed to real hazards.
One recent case involved a roofer who fell through a gap in a roof structure during an extension job. There was no crash deck, no guard rail and no safe route across the roof. The subcontractor and principal contractor were prosecuted, with such consequences underlining a point that regulators repeat every year. Cutting corners has a direct human cost, and the law does not treat these failings lightly.
What The HSE Is Doing
The HSE investigates every suspected work-related fatality. Inspectors gather evidence, examine site conditions, interview workers and supervisors, and review safety paperwork. Where they find breaches of regulation, they bring enforcement action. Some cases progress to prosecution, while others lead to improvement notices and further monitoring. Their investigation process remains transparent and is set out in detail on the HSE website so that employers can understand how decisions are made.
The HSE also promotes preventative tools, with one example being the Near-Miss Book, which encourages organisations to record close calls before they turn into serious incidents. When used correctly, these systems help spot weak supervision, poor access planning or early signs of equipment failure. Firms that take reporting seriously often reduce risk without major changes to their operations.
Staying Up To Date With Guidance
It is essential for employers, contractors and workers to stay current with HSE guidance on working at height. The Work at Height Regulations 2005 remain the foundation, but industry-specific guidance continues to evolve. Regular refreshers help ensure that safe access systems, supervision arrangements and protective measures remain fit for purpose.
Proper edge protection should also be treated as a compulsory feature of any work at height. Clear planning, thorough inspection and strong site leadership must sit alongside it.
Reflecting On The Human Cost
The figures provide an insightful overview, but each statistic is tied to a real person. A fatal fall may occur because someone trusted an unguarded platform or stepped onto a surface that looked solid but was not. These incidents happen in seconds and cannot be reversed, and it is families, friends and workmates that carry the consequences long after the investigation ends.
We extend our sincere condolences to the families, friends and colleagues of those who have lost their lives or suffered serious injury due to a fall from height. Their loss matters. It should prompt all of us in the industry to treat even small risks with greater care.
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